January 15, 1954
Dear Co-Workers in Christ:
Here is BIG NEWS! It may mean the end of this present
world is much nearer than even we had supposed!
God is opening new doors that His Gospel may go more
quickly to all the world.
I am in New York at the air port---dictating this letter
by long distance telephone to be typed and mailed to you today from
Pasadena, while I am flying home. I expect to arrive home tonight
but this letter is too urgent to wait.
Here is the BIG NEWS! The second largest nation on
earth, in number of human lives, is India. India has 364,000,000
people---as compared to 160,000,000 in the United States.
Beginning February 16, "this Gospel of the Kingdom of God" will be
broadcast for the first time in all history to all of India! And
at very slight cost to us! I have just been offered this
tremendous opportunity and closed the contract in New York City.
It is a thrilling story. It is most important. I want
you to read carefully every word.
On the island of Ceylon, just off the southern tip of
India, is the most powerful commercial radio station in the two
largest continents on earth---Asia and Africa. It is actually four
tremendous super-power stations grouped together---beaming out in
four directions on four giant transmitters---each of them 100,000
watts of power.
One giant transmitter beams programs to all India,
Pakistan, Burma, Tibet, the interior of China, Iran, Iraq,
Palestine, North Africa.
A second beams east into Thailand, Indo-China, all of
East Indies, and the China coastline; a third 100,000 watt
transmitter beams west to Central and Southern Africa and the
fourth transmitter covers the populace Island of Ceylon locally.
The World Tomorrow program will now go out on all four of
these tremendous transmitters, from 10:15 to 10:45 every Tuesday
night.
How God brought all this about is a most interesting
story. The fact that God has moved to make all this possible, and
has opened it to us so soon, may mean the end of the world is much
nearer than we had supposed---for Jesus said the END of this world,
and His coming to rule the "World Tomorrow" will occur when this
Gospel of His Kingdom has gone out for a witness to all nations!
First, about India, and why we cannot delay reaching it.
The Kremlin is moving right now with all its power to take over
India, as it did China. Best estimates are that Russia will now
turn India communist and gain rule over India in four more years.
The Reds have been checked and even turned back in Europe, by the
Marshall Plan, and Allied Defense. Their direct path to conquer
Paris and London and the United States has been blocked. But Lenin
said, "The road to Paris lies through Peking and Calcutta" (China
and India). Once Russia controls India and China, the rest of the
Orient will fall into their power---more than half of all of the
people on earth. If they control the whole Orient they can wear
down and finally conquer America and the whole world.
There is no time to lose in India. God knows this better
than we, and has moved quickly in miraculous manner to open the way
to send His Message, through us, to all India and China. Many
millions of people in India speak the English language.
Here's how God has worked mighty providential
circumstances to open these doors. The need for the great four-way
radio station arose during World War II. The Allies had to have
this tremendous radio station to beam their messages to the people
of the East Indies, Burma, and all the Islands that Japan had
seized. The United States government sent over the finest and most
powerful radio equipment. This station was set up and operated
under Lord Lewis Mountbatton, Supreme Allied Forces Commander.
When the war ended, the great station was turned over to
the Ceylon government. They did not know what to do with it. The
man I talked to here in New York was officially connected with it,
and suggested that they turn it into a commercial broadcast
station. He now controls the time sales in New York. He contacted
me about this opportunity. I flew to New York, and now all plans
have been made and contracts signed.
And let me say right here, that through these same men
whom God has used to open India to us, He has opened up China. As
you know Chiang Kai-Shek is anti-communist. His nationalist
government was forced to flee from China mainland and set up head-
quarters on the Island of Formosa. There he has very powerful
radio equipment supplied by the United States. He and his wife
have professed Christianity. These New York agents have a
connection with Chiang Kai-Shek's government and tell me that the
Generalissimo has consented to let us broadcast God's Message to
all China over his government's super-power radio station.
Arrangements are now being completed for this. God is moving fast,
now, with great miracles, to open the way for us around the world.
The END of this world may be nearer than even we believe.
Finally two important things I have to say.
1) This very important Ceylon broadcast program costs so
little it does not add a noticeable expense---only about 1 percent
of present expenses of God's great work.
2) But, on the other hand, there has been a sudden
dropping off of money received for the work this week, so that the
very life of the work is again threatened.
Week by week, more and more letters are being received
from new listeners from the ABC network, now indicating more than
a million listeners every week. Already a few of them are joining
you as co-workers. We must hold on, dear co-workers, a few more
months and then there will be enough new co-workers to pay the
network costs.
Again the need is URGENT! It takes money every day and
every week, to operate this greatest work on earth.
The two or three who sent in large offerings this past
month saved the great work of God. If more of you would send in
more widow's mites more often, these larger sums would not be so
desperately needed---but every dollar---and every thousand dollars
---is a DESPERATE NEED RIGHT NOW!
Stand with me, co-workers! Think how God is moving to
lead the way for His work. He expects you, as well as me, to do
OUR PART, without letting up.
Yours, in Jesus' name,
Herbert W. Armstrong
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